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August 22, 2022

Mid-Prairie Community School District

Kalona, Wellman, West Chester

Mid-Prairie Central Office Community Room, Wellman, IA  52356

August 22, 2022 – 6:15 p.m.

www.mid-prairie.k12.ia.us

 

President Jeremy Pickard called the meeting to order.

Board members present:   Mary Allred, Denise Chittick, Gabrielle Frederick, Jeremy Pickard, Marianne Schlabach, Jed Seward, and Jake Snider.

Board members absent:  None.

Also Present:  Jeff Swartzentruber, Chuck Banks, Robin Foster, Rob Hruby, Greg Jergens, Rachel Kerns, Amy Shalla, and Frank Slabaugh.

Superintendent Stone was absent due to family obligations.

Mary Allred moved to adopt the agenda as presented.  Seconded by Marianne Schlabach.  Motion carried 7-0.

Hawk Highlight

Principals Foster, Jergens, Kerns, Banks, Slabaugh, and Hruby shared the impressions and experience at the recent PLC (Professional Learning Communities) Training held in Minnesota.  The Administrative Team is going to utilize the resources for learning together and then take the learning and ideas to each buildings.  Fifteen staff attended and came back with a passion to implement the learnings to the District. The Board asked questions for understanding.

BUSINESS MEETING

Public Forum– 6:20 p.m.

No one spoke.

Consent Items

Marianne Schlabach moved to approve the following consent items.  The change of FTE for Carrie Schweitzer was noted as a consent item by Business Manager, Swartzentruber.

Minutes of Previous Meetings

The minutes of August 8, 2022;

Finance Report

None presented at this time;

Payment of Bills

The bills as listed for August 22, 2022 and Prepaid Bills;

Open Enrollment Requests

Susan Ray requests Eli Ray (Grade 8), attend Mid-Prairie from Washington Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;

Charles Gent and Trisha Parizek request Jacob Gent (Grade 1) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from English Valleys Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;

Shawn & Jennifer Sandersfeld request Anton Sandersfeld (Grade 10), Otto Sandersfeld (Grade 6), and Reiner Sandersfeld (Grade 8) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Clear Creek Amana Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;

Tyler and Sadie Woodley request Alexander Woodley (Kindergarten) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Iowa City Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;

Samantha Meyer request Camille Meyer (Kindergarten) attend Washington Community School District from Mid-Prairie;

Personnel Items

Contract issued to Melanie Steinhart, 8th Grade Volleyball Coach, $2,170.00 per annum;

Proposal to Increase Carrie Schweitzer, Middle School FCS from 0.5 FTE to 0.75 FTE for the 2022-2023 School Year;

Work Agreement issued to Stephanie Tardy, High School Paraprofessional $14.67 per hour;

Work Agreement issued to Hannah Glick, East Elementary Paraprofessional $14.67 per hour;

Resignation of Sandra Popejoy, High School Paraprofessional, $14.76 per hour, effective August 31, 2022;

Fundraising Requests

High School Baseball requests approval to raise funds through the 3rd Annual Can Drive on October 15, 2022, to purchase equipment, pay volunteer coaches and purchase coaches apparel;

Mary Allred seconded the consent items.  Motion carried 7-0.

Student Learning

Second Reading of Board Policy Series 100’s and 400’s

Board President Pickard directed the Board’s attention to the Chapter 100 and Chapter 400 Policies that were reviewed and portions amended by the Board with passage of the First Reading on August 8th. Pickard asked for questions, if any.

Denise Chittick moved to approve on Second Reading Board Policy Series 100 as presented.  Jed Seward seconded the motion.    Motion carried 7-0.

Marianne Schlabach moved to approve on Second Reading Board Policy Series 400 as presented.  Denise Chittick seconded the motion.    Motion carried 7-0.

Employee-Owned Therapy Dog Policy (New) – 605.9

Board President Pickard introduced the agenda item and referenced new proposed Policy 606.9 Employee-Owned Therapy Dog Policy along with Documents 606.9E1 Professional Dog Handler Ethics, and 606.9E2 Employee-Owned Professional Therapy Dogs Checklist.  These policies are similar to those used by Ottumwa Community Schools.  This is brought to the Board due to an employee inquiry for bringing their Therapy Dog to their building.  The Board Discussed the Policy.

Gabrielle Frederick moved to approve on First Reading Board Policy 606.9 and exhibits 1 and 2 as presented (as changed).  Jake Snider seconded the motion.    Motion carried 7-0.

Finance

Bond Disclosure Policy 704.7

Business Manager Swartzentruber updated the Board on this Policy.  We are required to make the primary (initial) offering and the secondary (on-going) annual disclosures on bond securities the District issues or guarantees under the Federal Securities laws, including anti-fraud provisions.  Piper-Sandler, the District Financial and Bond Advisor assists us in assuring this disclosures are made by the state deadlines.  This policy is to assure that this is known and followed.  The Policy language is standard and written by Ahlers Cooney, the District’s Bond Legal Counsel.  This will be Board Policy 704.7 according to Ahlers & Cooney.  The Board asked questions for clarification and understanding.

Gabrielle Frederick moved to approve on First Reading the Bond Disclosure Policy 704.7 as presented.  Mary Allred seconded the motion.    Motion carried 7-0.

Post-Issuance Compliance Regulation for Tax-Exempt Obligations 704.2.R1

Business Manager Swartzentruber updated the Board on this regulation as it needs to be reapproved due to some changes in the original Section 7 on Advance Refunding.  Swartzentruber serves as Treasurer of the District and again work through Piper-Sandler in its capacity as District Financial and Bond Advisor to assure compliance.  This will be Board Policy 704.2.R1 according to Ahlers & Cooney.   Swartzentruber discussed elements of tax-exempt obligations to be followed including interest earnings and arbitrage, building for tax-exempt purposes that includes no leases or agreements with other entities or special use provisions for the buildings being built with these bonds.

Gabrielle Frederick moved to approve the Post-Issuance Compliance Regulation on First Reading for Tax-Exempt Obligations as presented.  Marianne Schlabach seconded the motion.    Motion carried 7-0.

IASB National Presence-Potential By-Laws Amendment

Board Member, Gabrielle Frederick, reported an upcoming change in By-Laws for IASB to the Board where the IASB changes the national organization from the current NSBA—2% of IASB dues—to the new one, CASBA—1% of IASB due.  The Board discussed the issues and noted a focus on local issues versus national.

Announcements and Suggestions for Next Agenda

The next regular Board meeting will be on Monday, September 12, 2022, at 6:15 p.m. at the Mid-Prairie Middle School Media Center.  Agenda items to include:  Second Reading on 606.9, 704.7 and 704.2.R1; visits of the Middle School, East Elementary, and Home School Education Center; Audit RFP; and other items tabled from the previous meeting of August 8th.

Work Session

Building Tour of MP High School

The Board toured the High School Building led by Chuck Banks, Principal, to see the changes made over the Summer and see the preparation for first day of school.

Building Tour of MP West Elementary

The Board toured the High School Building led by Robin Foster, Principal, and Jordan TeBockhorst, Lead Custodian for West Elementary, to see the changes made over the Summer and see the preparation for first day of school.

Board Highlight

Board Members shared a highlight from the meeting.  Items mentioned included:

  • Appreciation for learning about the PLC training and process for the upcoming school year.
  • The tours of the two buildings to see the year over year changes and to see the pride for the building taken by the staff.  Specifically noted, were the MP Skins on the windows for added security
  • Appreciation for the discussion of the use of Therapy Dogs and the desire to add to the capacity of this program.

Announcements and Suggestions for Next Agenda

The next regular Board meeting will be on Monday, September 12, 2022, at 6:15 p.m. at the Mid-Prairie Middle School Media Center.  Agenda items to include:

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m. at West Elementary School.